The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-06-22
BELI1cosE coNanEssMEN.


Thirty Years Ago.
From Benz Perley Poore's RecollectionR
The scrimmage in the House OF Rep
resentatives early on Saturday morning,
February 8, 1858, was an exciting affair
rs seen from the reporters gallery. It
was inaugurated by Keitt, Of South
Carolina, who rushed belligerently at
Grow of Pennsylvania, when he re-
ceived--not from Grow, however,
blow that knocked him down. A doz-
en- Southern men at once left their
seats and rushed to the spot while as
many anti Lecompton men came to the
rescue. Foremost cnme Mr.. Potter,
OF Wisconsin, very athletic, COM
pact man who bounded into the
center Of the excited group, strik-
ing right and left with tremendous Wig.
or. Washburne, of Illinois, and his
brother of Wisconsin, also were promi-
nent, and for minute or two it seemed
as though we were to have Kilkenny
fight on magnificent scale. Banks
dale had hold of Grow, when Potter
struck him o severe blow, supposing
that he was hurting that gentleman.
Barksdale, turning around and sup
posing it was Elihu Washburne who
struck him, dropped Grow and struck
out at the gentleman from Illinois.
Cadwallader Washburne, perceiving the
attack upon his brother, also made q
dash at Mr. Barksdale, and seized him
by the hair, apparently for the purpose
OF drawing him Unto chancery" and
pummelling him to greater satisfaction.
Horrible to relate, Mr.. Barksdale's wig
came off in Cadwallader's left hand, and
his right fist expended itself with tremen-
dous force against the unresisting air.
This ludicrous incident unquestion-
ably did much toward restoring good
nature subsequently, and its effect was
heightened not little by the fact that
in the excitement of the occasion Banks
dale restored his wig wrong side fore
most.
The Speaker yelled and raped for
order, without effect. The Sergeant-at
Arms stalked to the scene of battle,
mace in hand, but his American eagle"
had no more effect than the Speakers
gravel. Owen Lovcjoy and Lamar, of
Mississippi, were paving each other at
one point-each probably trying to
persuade the other to be still. Mr..
Mott, the gray-haired Quaker Repre-
sentative from Ohio, was seen going
here and there in the crowd. Davis,
of Mississippi, got severe, but acct
dental, blow from Mr.. Grow, and vari-
GUS gentleman sustained slight bruises
and scratches. A Virginia Representa-
tive, who thought Montgomery, of
Pennsylvania, was about to pitch
. in," laid his hand upon his arm
to restrain him, and was perempto-
rily ordered to desist or be knocked
down. Mr.. Covode, Of Pennsylvania,
caught up o heavy stoneware spittoon,
with which TO "brain" whoever might
seem to deserve it, but, fortunately, did
not get far enough into the excited
crowd to find an appropriate subject for
his vengeance, and all over the hall ev-
erybody was excited for the time.
Fortunately, it did not last long, and
no weapons were openly displayed.
When order was restored, several gen
tlsmen were found to present an exces-
sively tumbled and disordered appear
ance, but there remained little else to re-
call the excitement. Gentlemen of OPP
posite parties crossed over to each other
to explain their pacific dispositions,
and that they got intoa fight where
their only purpose was to prevent q
fight Mutual explanations and q
hearty laugh at the ludicrous side Of
the drama were followed by quiet anda
return to business.